Tuesday 15 April 2014

Cyclone Ita.

We have had a very busy time, I (Dee) have started a new job at the Coconut Grove 5 star resort, which is extremely nice, all the staff seem lovely to.
Cyclone Ita was approaching Cooktown and the Far North coast, so we had to pack up our camper and head to shelter at Port Douglas.  It was good that we packed up and moved out as a large tree came down on our camp site and the Mossman River rose to the highest it has ever been and it would have been in our Camper trailer.  The Daintree river peaked at 10.5 metres.  Now Ita hit Cooktown at a category 4, by the time it got to us it was only a 2.  However you will see how much damage it did, there is still severe flooding in the area, sugar cane & Banana crops have been damaged and some wiped out.  A lot of people now have power although parts of Cooktown may be without power for up to four weeks.   Cyclone Ita sort of went round us and then back by us, so we nearly got it twice!!! 
Now we got offered a room at the Coconut Grove, however we had no where to put the ute & camper as the under ground car park may have flooded. So we decided to go back to the Lychee Tree (we were based here during the wet season).  Our apartment looks very nice, first floor, so a good view of the cyclone.  Unfortunately the neighbours filled their bath with water(as we all did), they then went to friends. Their bath leaked and this flooded our bedroom (nothing to do with the cyclone), the Friday night our bedroom carpet was getting wetter, by the Saturday night it was really bad and smelt like rotten potatoes!!! We had an emergency unit to go to, but somebody had already used that, the manager was away up in Mareeba at his property.  So we took the mattress of the bed and slept in the lounge, Sunday morning we moved out very quickly.  We didn't pay for our accommodation!!

As we were packing up, this stick insect was looking for cover.
 

The calm before the storm.
 

Port Douglas Marina, all the boats were up the creek.
 

We had a little rain!!
 

We had a little wind!!


Some ones yacht went down in the storm. (or up the creek).
 

Look empty!!!

The foliage all over the roads.
 

Four Mile Beach, this is big surf for Port Douglas!!
 

Macrossan Street (main Street) Port Douglas.
 
Main street closed an another tree down, this one brought power lines down.
 

Macrossan Street, Port Douglas. 
 

We tried going to Mossman, the road was closed.
 

Bashed sugar Cane, but should be ok.
 

Before Ita, packed up and ready to get out!!
 

Our evacuation accommodation.

Cyclone Ita.


The lounge at our evacuation centre.
 

The tree down on our campsite, after Ita.  Steve had great fun back at the caravan park, when he HAD to get his chainsaw out to help get this tree of the road!!!!
 

Our new site at Mossman Caravan Park- no power yet.
 
Day off and we decided to visit Newell Beach, which is 5 mins North of Mossman, what a pleasant surprise, the beach is soooooooo long and on a sunny day will be a stunning spot,  however today was a wet & cloudy day.  Nice coffee at the café:).

Steve on Newell Beach. 

All the fallen trees line the beach giving it even more character - Newell Beach.

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